Did I adjust the electric skateboard trucks correctly? am I missing something? What is the way to adjust electric skateboard trucks?

I got a lot of theses questions from my friends or Facebook groups, and for those who do not know me or have not looked at About Me page, I decided to create this blog in order to encourage my blog visitors to maintain their electric vehicles themselves, especially since 80% of maintenance can be done by yourself without visiting a repair shop.

Based on this, I decided to make an easy and complete guide on How do you tighten electric skateboard trucks? so that it gives you the correct way and also the necessary advice for that.

Now let’s get started..

How do you tighten electric skateboard trucks?

To tighten your electric skateboard trucks, it is preferable to use the tighten tool that comes with the skateboard (if you do not have it, you can use a wrench suitable for the size of the trucks nut).

Step 1: Using the Tighten tool turn the nut counter clockwise.

This is the starting point for you, and the goal of loosening the nut is to count the number of turns of the nut until it is equal to the rear trucks.

Place the tighten tool straight on the nut (90 angle)

Start rotating the tool clockwise and count the turns so that it is a complete turn when you reach the starting point

Step 2: stop turning when you can’t move the washer by your hand.

After each complete lap, try to move the washer, and when you cannot move the washer, stop

Step 3 :Repeat the same steps on the rear trucks

Step 4 : is to rotate the skateboard tool counterclockwise at an angle of 45 degrees, then try the electric skateboard.

Based on my personal experience, this method will achieve the highest level of balance and stability as well , however its still a personal preference to everyone.

Therefor in the next section I will share with you useful tips you should take into consideration while tighten your electric skateboard trucks.

Tips to take into consideration while tighten your electric skateboard trucks.

1-Tighteness is not Good or BAD.

The tightness of electric skateboard trucks has nothing good or bad. It all depends on two things: the ways in which you ride the skateboard and also your style of riding.

The tightener the trucks, the greater stability you will get at high speeds.
The more you loosen it, the greater the ability to maneuver, but at the expense of stability.

Therefore, if you are riding the electric skateboard on twisty roads or your riding style depends on many maneuvers, it is not best for you to extremely tighten skateboard trucks.

The opposite is true, if you are riding a skateboard quickly on straight roads, it is preferable to tighten the trucks.

2- Your weight is key factor

Your weight as a rider on the electric skateboard is an essential factor that you should take into account because the more you weigh, the higher the stability you need to be, and therefore you will need to tighten the truck more tightly in order to prevent wobbling at high speeds.

while lighter riders might prefer looser trucks for easier turning.

3-Check for Even Tightness.

Make sure that the trucks are tightened evenly to avoid an uneven ride. Tighten the nuts in a crisscross pattern to ensure uniform tightness on both sides.

4-Ride and Fine-Tune.

After making adjustments, take your electric skateboard for a test ride. Pay attention to how it feels during turns, at different speeds, and on different terrains. Based on your experience, fine-tune the tightness until you find the sweet spot that offers both stability and maneuverability.

5-Consider the Type of Riding.

The ideal truck tightness also depends on the type of riding you do. For downhill riding, tighter trucks are generally preferred for stability, while for street or freestyle riding, slightly looser trucks might be more suitable for tricks and turns.

6-Regularly Check and Adjust.

Over time, the nuts and bolts on your skateboard trucks may loosen due to vibrations and regular use. Regularly check the tightness of your trucks and make adjustments as needed to maintain optimal performance.

7-Use the Right Tools.

Use a skate tool or a wrench specifically designed for skateboard trucks. This ensures that you can tighten or loosen the nuts and bolts effectively without damaging them.

How do you know if your electric skateboard trucks is too tight or too loose?

While adjusting the trucks, a question will come to your mind: Are the trucks too tight or are they too loose?
Therefore, in this part, I will explain to you How do you know if your electric skateboard trucks are too tight or too loose?

In order to know whether you are tightening the trucks too tightly or not, you should look at the pushing. If you find it squeezed and swollen, then you may be tightening the trucks too much.

If you can move the washer with your hand easily, the trucks are too loose.

The post How do you tighten electric skateboard trucks?(Explained with PICs) appeared first on .

In this case, you will not only need a large battery, but you will also need to modify your riding style and take some preventive steps that will increase the range of your battery.

Therefore, in this post, I will discuss with you the possible reasons that may lead to the electric skateboard battery running out quickly, and also what you can do to avoid this problem.

Why is my electric skateboard dying so fast?

As a general rule, there are many reasons that lead to the electric skateboard battery running out quickly, but the most important of these reasons are:

Damage to a cell or group of cells inside the battery
BMS damage
The third most important reason is poor storage in winter

Now let us discuss all the possible reasons that lead to the electric skateboard battery draining quickly.

1: Damage to a cell or group of cells inside the battery.

The electric skateboard currently on the market works with a lithium-ion battery, and although this type of battery is considered the future in the world of batteries and is currently used in the manufacture of most Electric vehicles, but this type of battery requires a controlled protection system to ensure that no fire or explosion occurs inside the batteryز

Accordingly, this type of battery is designed to operate according to the efficiency of the lowest cell inside it.

In other words, if you have 13 cells inside the battery, all of them charged at 100% except for only one cell, which is charged at 50%, the BMS system will manage the entire battery on the condition that all cells have a charge rate of 50%, and when this cell runs out of charge, the battery will be completely shutdown.

After we have explained the reason, we must answer two important questions at this point:

How do I know if I have a damaged cell?
What should I do if I confirm that there is a damaged cell?

Let’s start with the first question

How do I know that I have a damaged cell inside the electric skateboard battery?

Here you should measure the voltage within all the cell groups one by one using a multimeter

There is also a method, based on my experience, that you can use to confirm that there is a damaged cell without using a multimeter or opening the battery in the first place.

This method depends on monitoring the charging time of the electric skateboard battery, meaning if you charge the battery in 4 hours and notice that this time has significantly decreased, this is evidence that there is a damaged cell.

Now the turn for the second question:

What should I do if I confirm that there is a damaged cell?

If the battery is a year old or less, most often all you need is to rebalance the internal cells by placing the battery on the charger for 12 hours and disconnecting the BMS cable.

If the skateboard battery is somewhat old, the damaged cell must be identified and replaced (it is preferable for this process to be carried out by a specialist to ensure that the battery cells are soldered correctly).

2: A Damage BMS

The second most common reason for a rapid battery drain is damage to the BMS or battery management protection system
The idea is that when the BMS is damaged, its reading of the cells voltage will be incorrect, and therefore you will notice that the skateboard suddenly shutdown.

The solution to this problem is to first test the BMS, then try to do a reset, then change the BMS if it does not work to do a reset.

recently I wrote a detailed article that explains in an illustrated way how to test and reset a BMS

You can view it here

How To Test & Reset battery BMS? (Explained with PICs)

3:Poor Battery storage.

There are many opinions on how to store the electric skateboard battery, but in reality all of these opinions revolve around the correct percentage of charge that the battery should have before storing it.

In order to clarify this point, the matter depends on two main points:

The first point is the storage period.

If you intend to store the battery for a long time, the charge should be between 30% and 50% to ensure that the battery is not damaged.

However, if you are going to store it for a short period, the charge percentage should be between 70% and 30%.

The second point is the place where you will store the battery.

If you live in a very cold area in the winter, you should turn on the battery at least every month or two, discharge the charge, and recharge it again.

The goal here is to ensure that the cold does not stop the chemical processes occurring inside the battery.

After we have explained the most common reasons for the rapid depletion of the electric skateboard battery, we will move in the following sections to the reasons that have some effect on the speed of battery depletion.

4:Battery Health.

Battery life is measured by the number of charging cycles, i.e. from 20% to 100% is considered a complete charging cycle
On average, the battery life is between 700 and 1,000 charging cycles, which is equivalent to two to five years

If you are using the electric skateboard continuously, it is possible that the battery is approaching the end of its lifespan and the range may be reduced.

Here you should change the battery

5:Temperature.

High or very cold temperatures directly affect the battery range, although the effect of high temperature differs from the effect of cold on the battery, but in the end the noticeable effect for you is a reduction in the range and the speed of battery depletion.

For high temperatures:

During the operation of the battery under normal conditions, the battery produces some heat as a result of the passage of electric current and the movement of ions. If the temperature surrounding the battery is high, it will significantly affect the movement of ions, and thus the battery will run out faster.

Note: In high-quality batteries, the maximum temperature inside the battery is 30°C, and I am talking about the temperature inside the battery, not the weather temperature.

For extremely cold temperatures:

In the same way as before, the movement of ions inside the battery cells is very little due to the extreme cold, which may cause the battery to quickly run out or stop working completely.

Note: The internal battery temperature must not be less than zero for the battery to operate efficiently.

6:Riding Style.

Your style of riding the electric skateboard will also affect how quickly the battery runs out. If you are accelerating all the time and using the brakes a lot, you will consume the battery much faster than if you were using a moderate method of riding the electric skateboard.

7:Rough terrain or uphill.

When you ride the electric skateboard on steep hills, it requires extracting intense torque from the motor, which requires rapid battery consumption in a short time.

On the other hand, difficult terrain affects the motor’s battery consumption

Note: This point greatly affects the battery range in all electric vehicles. I even notice it in my electric car (Tesla Model S). A mile from my house there are some hills, and when I cross these hills, the charge rate decreases by about 7%.

Therefore, if you avoid the hills on your way, you will save a significant percentage of charge in the electric skateboard battery.

8:Mechanical Issues.

Any mechanical issues with the skateboard, such as a dragging wheel or a misaligned motor, can cause the motor to work harder, using up more power.

9:Firmware/Software Problems.

Sometimes, issues with the skateboard’s firmware or software can cause abnormal power usage. Updating the firmware might help in such cases.

10:Charging Habits.

If you frequently overcharge or completely drain your battery, it can lead to reduced battery life over time. Lithium-ion batteries have a limited number of charge cycles.

Conclusion.

In conclusion, Apart from internal cells issue & BMS and using the right storing method, maintaining your electric skateboard’s battery life requires mindful consideration of various factors.

From battery health and riding style to terrain and charging habits, being aware of these elements can significantly impact the longevity of your skateboard’s battery, ensuring optimal performance and a longer lifespan for your electric skateboard .

The post Why is my electric skateboard dying so fast? (Repaired) appeared first on .

One of the situations that bothers you most while dealing with any electrical device in general is that you won’t turn on
When it comes to the electric skateboard, the matter is more annoying because when we decide to ride the electric skateboard, we are in a state of waiting to enjoy it and start it.

Therefore, in this post, I will explain to you How do you fix an electric skateboard that won’t turn on

now let’s get started.

How do you fix an electric skateboard that won’t turn on?

As a general rule, the reason that an electric skateboard won’t turn on is a problem with the battery or charger.

The previous answer means that 100 % of the reasons that the electric skateboard will not turn on is a problem with the battery or charger, but the question here is: Will all problems with the battery or charger lead to the skateboard stopping working?!

The answer is, of course, no, and that is why in this section we will mention all the problems that may occur in the battery or charger and cause the keyboard not turning on.

1-One or two wires split from the charging port.

Splitting of the charging wires in skateboards is a very common issue.

The reason for this is the design of the skateboard, which is very close to the ground, which makes the lower part of the skateboard exposed to vibration and shocks.

The solution to this problem is very easy, which is to re-solder the wire again

2- Bad BMS.

The second problem that may cause the electric scooter to stop working is that the battery management system (BMS) has a problem that causes it to stop receiving electrical current, and therefore the electric scooter will not work.

The battery management system is a very important part of any battery, and that is why we have dedicated the following post, which explains in detail how it works, as well as the testing method, and finally how to perform a reset.

How To Test & Reset battery BMS? (Explained with PICs)

In general, the solution to this problem is to either reset the BMS or replace it.

3-Unbalanced battery cell.

Inside each battery is a group of cells, and the cell is (a 4.2 volt battery).

When the charging process begins, the BMS allows the electrical current to pass and monitor it so that it can disconnect the electrical current when the first cells reaches the maximum charge level, which is 4.2 volts, but in some cases Sometimes there may be a damaged cell and the ion movement does not occur properly, which will cause a lack of discharge with use.

In this case, every time you try to charge the electric skateboard, the BMS will sense that there is a full battery and prevent the flow of electrical current, this will cause the electric skateboard to stop working because the rest of the cells are empty.

The solution is to rebalance all battery cells and replace the damaged cell

In order to rebalance, there are two ways:

The first method (which is the easiest) is to disconnect the BMS cable, then leave the battery to charge for 8 hours, making sure to be near the battery and check it at least every hour.

The second method: is to take all the battery cells out, recharge them externally, and then replace the damaged battery

Note: In order to determine which battery is damaged, measure the voltage inside all the cells, and if you find that all the cells have 3 volts or less and only one has 4.2 volts, change it.

sometime you will find that the battery cell that is damage is less than 2.0 volt and all the other cells are 3v or more.

4- Dead Battery.

If the electric skateboard is not turning on after a long storing period , then most likely the battery has lost a lot of its charge during the storage period and some cells have become completely devoid of charge.

The solution to this problem is to test all the cells inside the battery and identify the damaged cells (they have a charge of less than 2 volts), then replace the damaged cells and recharge the battery.

5- Broken\ bad Charger.

Sometimes the reason for your inability to operate the electric keyboard is that the battery is empty because the charger has become damaged or has a problem. In this case, you should test the charger and replace it if necessary.

Note: You can view the following guide that we have dedicated to all the information (testing, replacement, and troubleshooting) you may need about electric vehicle chargers.

E-Bike Charger Woes: How to Spot, Test, and Fix the Gremlins

6-Damage charging port.

In other cases, the reason for your inability to turn on your electric skateboard is that the charging port itself is damaged. In this case, you can change the charging port.

Note: If the electric keyboard is still under warranty, it is preferable to contact the manufacturer and send them a video showing the damage to the charging port so that they can send you a replacement or send them the electric skateboard for maintenance.

7-Water Leakage.

If this problem occurs after riding the electric skateboard on a rainy day or on wet ground, then most likely a water leak occurred inside the skateboard.
The solution in this case is to open the electric skateboard and make sure it is dried well, then try to charge it again. If it does not work, then you must test all its parts separately in order to determine the damaged part.

Note: This problem is considered one of the problems that requires a specialist, so perhaps you should consider sending the electric skateboard for maintenance.

8-Bushing & the trucks are warped or broken.

the bushing & trucks are responsible for the movement of the electric skateboard so if you notice the the skateboard are not working or in some cases working on its own you should replace the bushing & trucks to fix this issue.

Conclusion.

we can summarize the reasons why the electric skateboard won’t turn on in the below table.

The post How do you fix an electric skateboard that won’t turn on? (FIXED) appeared first on .